Remittances to Latin America and its Effect on Development Manuel Orozco, Project Director, Central America Inter-American Dialogue

Important Trend and Dynamic of the Late XXth Century Latino immigrants have become a key factor integrating Latin America into the global economy As investors in small and large business projects As grantors for social development As consumers of home country goods As senders of remittances to their families

Family remittances to Latin America

Agriculture and Remittances

Key economic and development issues about worker remittances Macro-economic effect process Players in the money transfer Multiplying role Development Potential of HTAs

Remittances as Percent of GDP

Remittances to Latin America and the Caribbean in 2001* *Information for Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean are provided by the countries’ Central Banks. Statistics for South American countries (Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Brazil), are likely to be undercounted.

Monthly remittances, January 1999-December 2001 (U.S. million)

Players in the Transfer of Worker Remittances Sender Money Transfer intermediaries Government involvement Hometown association Community Incentives Delivers assistance Relationship about carrying out projects International Money Transfer Agencies “Encomenderos”, “viajeros” Financial institutions: cooperatives, banks Household

Changes in the Transfer of Remittances: An imperfect Market Change Proliferation of companies, Slow but gradual decline in the transfer costs; New practices and services provided Growing interest of the banking community and governments Continuity Charges remain high, as well as exchange rate Competition has yet to affect olygopolies Little incentives on senders or recipients

Sustained and increasing flow of electronic money transfers Mexico: Percent Distribution of Remittance Transfers

Fee charges and exchange rates Average transfer fee and exchange rate commission to send $200

Multiplying effect of remittances Consumption effects: consumption increases a demand for goods and in turn investment. In a village $1 ‘migradollar’ increases income by $1.78 Savings and investment: Ten percent of all recipients save, a smaller percentage invest the money for some business procurement Banking effects: Savings rate increase: > 20% of recipients open bank accounts when money arrives at banks.

Development Potential Initiatives for development: Hometown Associations Development Activities Key issues: Project identification Capacity building Follow-up

Range of Activities Performed by Migrant Communities for their Home Country

Growth of Mexican Clubs in Chicago

The New Economies of Latin America

Nicaragua: Traditional Exports, Aid, Remittances and Tourism

Policy Implications How can international development organizations address the Latino diaspora as agent of development? Rural development and migrants share important feedback Empowerment of money recipients Local development efforts

The Future of Remittances Factors influencing People's Propensity to Remit

The flow and return of remittances

Financial Strategies to Attract Remittances Government Regulations on Remittance Income Government Capture of Remittance Shares Voluntary "Check-off" Contributions Government and Private-Sector Remittance Bonds Migrant Foreign Currency Accounts and Bonds Influencing Migrant Labor Earnings: Incentives to Invest in Home Country Micro-finance institutions and credit union involvement Offering Trading Licenses to Remittances Sender and/or Recipient Migrant-Sending Government Outreach to Migrants Migrant-Sending Government and U.S. Community Joint Ventures Hometown-Community Matching Funds Hometown-Community Investment Plans

Marketing Strategies Expand services and distribution networks Establish multiple business partnerships with other corporations Airlines: American, United, Taca Banks Stores Launch Community Outreach through Institutional Support Education support for home economics, investment, etc. Education support to integrate in U.S. society: English, naturalization courses, Be more vocal about the company's work with the community Transparency of service: report where money goes Reduce transaction costs Fund hometown associations Sponsor festivities Donate funds for development projects Know your clients better Identify their profile: the average as well as the outlier, and market accordingly Become a people's business

Monthly remittances, January 1999-December 2001 (U.S. million)

Shifting Dynamics in Latin American Economies: Decline of Agricultural Exports in Central American and Caribbean Countries

Labor Force in Agriculture

Agriculture as percent of GDP

Transfer Process Transfer depends on: Technology employed (ET, Fax, , etc.) Distribution Network (bank, courier, person) Location Regulations Instrument delivered (cash, money order, checks) Bank Recipient Bank Courier Traveler Delivery person Sender Courier 70% of transfer is electronic